Asian Game Industry Professionals Look to the Game Developers Conference for Incomparable Learning, Networking, and Inspiration

SHANGHAI, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Think Services' 2009 Game Developers Conference(R) (GDC) recently hosted more than 17,000 game industry professionals of which 1,000 delegates traveled from Asia to San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center for a week of learning, networking and inspiration. These Asian delegates represented several key game markets including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and India. Notable Asian speakers to GDC09 included Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo Co., Ltd., who kicked-off the GDC09 main conference schedule with a keynote address, and Hideo Kojima, Corporate Officer, Executive Producer and Director of Kojima Productions, who delivered the second keynote. The GDC remains a key conduit for helping these developers and industry professionals further the videogames industry for their countries. Chinese attendees in particular were encouraged to learn of the official endorsement by the Ministry of Culture of the P. R. China (MOC) for the Game Developers Conference(R) China (GDC China).

"Given the region's critical contributions to game development and the burgeoning opportunities for industry growth there, we are very pleased to see such strong representation by developers across Asia at the GDC," noted event director Meggan Scavio, GDC and GDC China. "We are even more excited to further support their education by bringing back the definitive Chinese developer event presented by Chinese game developers for Chinese game developers via GDC China this October."

With the goal of serving the Chinese game development community, GDC China 2009 will return to Shanghai October 11-13 with the popular online game and mobile game development tracks from the inaugural GDC China, presented in 2007. New this year, the conference will add tracks focusing on global game development, audio technology, visual arts and independent games. The second official GDC China will also host the first China Independent Games Festival (IGF China) with Simon Carless, Chairman of the IGF and Publisher of Game Developer magazine, acting as the general advisor.

For more information on GDC China, visit China.GDConf.com.

About the Think Services Game Group

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference(R), the Game Developers Conference(R) Austin, the Game Developers Conference(R) Europe, the Game Developers Conference(R) China, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. To learn more, visit
www.tsgamegroup.com

About Think Services, a division of United Business Media

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and innovative media. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of
United Business Media, a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit
www.think-services.com.